A team of scientists from the National Academies of Sciences (NAS) have turned the tables in the battle between environmental pressure groups and the US administration. The team presented a report that states that the toxic chemical ‘perchlorate’ is a lot safer than formerly believed.
Perchlorate is a hazardous chemical that was earlier declared as an ‘emerging contaminant’ by the state health department. The chemical is used in rocket fuel and explosives; which is why it can be found in the vicinity of military facilities, in 35 states. In fact, it is found wherever rockets and explosives were ever tested or are being made. There were reports earlier of finding vegetables that showed traces of this toxic chemical. These vegetables were irrigated with water from the Colorado River, which has been contaminated by a Nevada manufacturing facility. In fact, the contamination was found in at least three Colorado sites.
The new test by the scientists revealed that perchlorate was much safer than was earlier believed and allowed by federal regulators. At least 20 times more than its current standard would still be ‘safe enough’.
In 2002, federal environment agencies had declared that 1 part per billion was an acceptable limit for safety. To give you an idea, that ratio would be: about half a teaspoon of the chemical in an Olympic sized swimming pool.
The Pentagon was of another opinion. It claimed that the EPA’s studies were scientifically flawed and that the drinking water standards could be far more relaxed.
In this current report, the NAS does not adopt a drinking water standard, but recommends a new safe exposure limit, that is equal to about 20 parts per billion.
The chief of the research team refused to comment on the safety standards as he felt “it was a highly politicized issue. Also because it isn’t within our purview.”
The toxic chemical has often surfaced in the media as either the subject of debate or having been found somewhere. It was recently found at DuPont's former Louviers explosives-manufacturing facility in Douglas County and at a nearby mineral processing plant.
Despite lowering the safety standard, if at all it does achieve that, the report would also trigger costly cleanups at military installations. However, as soon as the report was published, the environment pressure groups launched a new offensive. A prominent group’s leader said “by this report it is clearly evident how the US administration is pressuring and influencing science. It is a brazen attempt to manipulate science at the expense of public health.”
The NAS scientists have provided related statistics along with their report. The data suggest that more than 11 million people in the U.S. drink water contaminated with perchlorate, which affects the thyroid function.
Earlier reports by the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) have pointed out that even small doses of perchlorate, in drinking water, can increase the risk of thyroid problems in fetuses and infants.
After this report by the NAS scientists, the EPA is likely to set new standards for safe drinking water.
